Detroit Lions — Former CB Dre Bly offers advice to Darius Slay

Former cornerback Dre Bly offers advice to Darius Slay

ALLEN PARK >> It’s been a long while since cornerback was a position of strength for the Detroit Lions.

It’s been so long that Dre Bly was the last Lions’ cornerback who went to the Pro Bowl. That was in 2003 and 2004.

The next best hope for the Lions is possibly Darius Slay who is entering his second season. The pressure is on Slay and veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis who is 33 and closer in age to Bly (37) than Slay (23).

Bly was one of five Lions alumni to visit training camp on Monday.

He likes what he sees from Slay.

“I think with having a guy on the other side like Rashean, I think that makes (Slay’s) adjustment better,’’ Bly said. “I think he’ll be able to take it all in, understand what this team expecting, with Chris Houston not being here. Slay in his second year, what the team is expecting of you is high. If he can put it all together, understand, don’t panic I think he’ll be OK.

“I think he’s a talented kid, obviously he was drafted for a reason. If he seized the moment and makes the most of the opportunity he’ll be OK,’’ Bly said.

Slay grew up watching Joe Haden more than Bly, but was looking forward to picking Bly’s brain after practice.

“He’s here today so I’m going to holler at him today,’’ Slay said. “I guess he’s going to talk to us, it’ll be pretty good to meet him.’’

Bly was expected to talk to the team Monday afternoon and planned to focus on the fact that the young players have to understand it’s a job, it’s not a game. That means that dedication, preparation and hard work is required.

“One thing I would tell younger cornerbacks, including Slay, is preparation is key, it’s a job so therefore taking care of your body, studying, being the first one to arrive, the last to leave. The guys upstairs (management) see everything you do,’’ said Bly who played for the Lions from 2003 to 2006 and was in camp in 2010 but didn’t survive the final cut.

Slay was shaken up on Monday during a one-on-one drill when Golden Tate fell on his neck. It kept him out of most of practice, but he was back on the sidelines watch and did footwork drills afterward. The injury was nothing serious and he is expected to practice on Tuesday.

Slay said overall he’s had a “very good” camp.

“I’m being productive every day, I’m getting better every day,’’ Slay said. “That’s my goal to be better every day.’’

“I think it is so important for those guys to come around and to be welcome, to give them an opportunity to talk to our guys,’’ Caldwell said. “They have some valuable experiences, there are a lot of champions in that group who have done tremendous things.’’

Caldwell and Bly go way back to when Caldwell was coaching at Wake Forest while Bly was playing at North Carolina.

“I saw him once a year and he used to give me a few problems during that time,’’ Caldwell said. “A lot of good people, and I think it’s important to be around our guys.”

Maybe a little Pro Bowl magic will brush off or at least a few words of advice will sink in.